I will Need to Make A Choice

[lturn]

Hi All - a little history - I have Chronic Neuropathy in both lower legs and the only symptom is pain and some weakness.  I have also had 4 Total Knee Replacements on my left knee over the last 12 years.  The knee I have now is pretty hard to use, but I hate the idea of amputating my leg.   My only option is an Above the Knee Amputation.  My surgeon says the bones are in poor condition and another knee joint is not a option.  Another complication is my prosthesis has a mild staph infection.  I am on a maintenence dose of Keflex to control it and so far so good.  I have some swelling and drainage but otherwise things are ok.  I am 70 y/o.

My question/s:  I have no idea what my 1st few days after amputation will be like.  I assume I will be on PT right away, but in general, should I be able to still use my walker?  I have been using my walker 100% of the time lately (a DVT last year wiped away any progress I had made toward walking) - I fear my balance is poor enough to prevent me using crutches but I should be able to continue using my walker to get around, right?

Also, my surgeon said people at my age and above don't take well to prosthetic legs.  He said they usually end up using a wheel chair to get around.  Do ya'll agree with that or is it a individual thing?  As you can see, I'm not in the greatest health so the physical demands of adopting to an artifical leg will be pretty hard on me.  

But I'd be interested to hear what anyone has to say about my future w/only 1 leg.

Thanks!
Larry

[spyder]

Hi Larry,

i´m 41 with 2 years experience as aka with short stump. I meet an older aka woman(ca. 60+ years of Age) at my walkingschool she had also knee´s and a bad bone cause of the knee´s she had, she had to go back to Hospital, cause of to saftly, they left to much bone, but for doctor it´s hard make it safe, save and short or let more bone to have a better life as amputee.

It could be hard to have a good Balance when your both legs are worse !?!?!?

Shure your Age isn´t perfect but i´ve seen older People who learned it.

If you are a healthy human it should work, to have no Feeling in your real leg doesn´t makes much difference to a strange Feeling with prosthetic/socket but it´s safer.

As longer your leg(stump) as easier it gets, getting back into a walker !!! 

Stay healthy and think well about, may talk to an older Tech with enough experiences they can tell you more than most doctors.

Each case is different !!!

Greets Roland